A German man with a shoulder-length ponytail was last night arrested as authorities hoped to have ended the astonishing four-day run of arson attacks across America’s second largest city.

Harry Burkhart, 24, was described by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca as ‘the most dangerous arsonist’ he could remember in the area, after more than 50 fires caused $3million in damage.

The arson attacks destroyed parked cars and scorched buildings across Hollywood, West Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. Since the arrest firemen have not attended any more suspicious fires.

Detained: Harry Burkhart, 24, was described by Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca as ‘the most dangerous arsonist’ he could remember in the area, after more than 50 fires caused $3million in damage

Taken in: The suspect's arrest was a measure of relief to anxious residents who had grown fearful after several nights of seemingly random blazes

More: Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters extinguish cars on fire in a garage in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles earlier this week as the spate of arson attacks reached its fifth night

Attacks: The arsonist set 12 new fires early on Monday morning, in North Hollywood, California

‘Our long four-day nightmare is over,’ Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said, after the suspect was arrested for investigation of arson of an inhabited dwelling and held on $250,000 bail.

Burkhart, of Frankfurt, Germany, was pulled over by a reserve sheriff's deputy who works for $1 a year - although the investigation is ongoing and authorities haven't ruled out others being involved.